Bottle caddy

ABSTRACT

THE BOTTLE CADDY was conceived while watching parents struggle trying to feed their babies while caring for other siblings at the same time. The multi-tasking while caring for children(s) is a fact of life and if there are alternatives they should be explored. With that in mind, the idea to develop such a product started. During that process a variety of design concepts were evaluated and then a prototype was constructed and tested, and including conducting trade-offs to ensure that a cost-effective product that is affordable to all was considered. THE BOTTLE CADDY met these goals and is maintenance free and safe to use product. Along the way THE BOTTLE CADDY usefulness was expanded for use by disable individuals with medical conditions. THE BOTTLE CADDY is light weight which is stored in small bag and consists of three basic components: a bottle sleeve/holder; a flexible arm and a clamp.

TECHNICAL FIELD

THE BOTTLE CADDY is a utility type device which when used is a safehands-free way to feed a baby. It is a simple light weight device to usewhich can be easily stored in a baby bag and is a maintenance freedevice.

BACKGROUND

THE BOTTLE CADDY is a hands-free, safe way for a parent or guardian tofeed their infant as well as provide a safe way for a disable individualto be able to either drink or feed themselves.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

THE BOTTLE CADDY clamps to a baby's high chair, car seat, playpen,stroller or any other apparatus (e.g. wheelchair or a bed). It has aflexible swivel arm with a sleeve on the end to hold a bottle securelyin place. This allows for hands-free feeding. THE BOTTLE CADDY would beconstructed of a lightweight metal and durable molded plastic. There areno sharp edges and the surfaces will be smooth and maintenance freewhich will allow for easy cleaning.

Solution to Problem

THE BOTTLE CADDY consists of a metal or plastic clamp with plastic orrubber coated tips. Flexible tubing ½″ in diameter and 14″ about long isattached to the handle on then clamp via a threaded fitting ½″ inlength. On the other end of the tubing is another threaded fitting ½″ inlength, attached to the end is a plastic sleeve approximately 2½″ longto hold the bottle. The plastic sleeve or holder is adjustable to allowfor securing various bottle sizes.

As an option an accessory Velcro strap is available, if required, foradditional security of the bottle. However, the plastic sleeve isdesigned to secure varying bottle sizes.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

There are times when a parent needs two sets of hands, one to attend toother sibling(s) or do something that just can't wait and the other tofeed the baby now. This is when THE BOTTLE CADDY helps. Clamp it to thebaby seat, stroller or any other baby apparatus, put the bottle in thebottle sleeve adjust it, and the parent could watch the baby feed whiletaking care of whatever else needs tending. Also, in cases where adisable individual with limited use of their hands can easily drink orfeed themselves without the assistances of someone holding the bottlefor them. Anyone could use THE BOTTLE CADDY easily; he or she wouldsimply attach the clamp, slide the bottle in the sleeve, adjust theswivel arm so that the bottle is in the right position and baby feeds.This also can be used for persons with medical conditions or disabilitythat prevent them from feeding themselves without the help of acaregiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1, you find an example of THE BOTTLE CADDY being used as an aidin feeding a baby in a baby seat. This illustration is a typical set upusing THE BOTTLE CADDY. In FIG. 2, you find an illustration of THEBOTTLE CADDY showing its three basic components and they are: thesurface clamp, the swivel flexible arm and the bottle sleeve or holder.In FIG. 3, you find a detail illustration of an isometric view of thebottle sleeve or holder. In FIG. 4, you find a bottom view of the bottlesleeve. In FIG. 5 you find a side view and in FIG. 6 you find a top viewof the bottle sleeve.

1: We claim that THE BOTTLE CADDY is a wonderful device to provide asafe way help to a parent during feeding time for a baby. It is a verysimple device to use and contains the following components: 1) an easygrip spring-loaded surface clamp that clamps onto a, high chair or anybaby apparatus (i.e., car seat, baby stroller, crib, etc.); 2) a swiveltype flexible arm to adjust to any angle (e.g. up, down, left or right)so that the bottle is in the correct position for feeding; 3) a bottlesleeve or holder with a rubber grip liner to hold various bottle sizessecurely. This allows the parent or caregiver to free up their hands sothat they can take care of whatever else needs tending. 2: We claim thatTHE BOTTLE CADDY can be used with other feeding devices besides a babybottle such as a cup or a plastic juice container as well. 3: We claimthat THE BOTTLE CADDY can be used to feed disable individuals who areconfined to a wheel chair or bed or a person with a medical conditionthat prevents them from feeding themselves without the help of others.THE BOTTLE CADDY is simply clamped into position and as an option theaccessory Velcro strap can be used for additional securing of the bottleor cup.